Jingtong Old Trail Introduction
The Jing Tong Old Trail has a history of at least a hundred years. It originated in the Qing Dynasty when residents of Shuitianjiao (present-day Xizhi) crossed the mountains and ventured into the Jing Tong area to cultivate land and settle. The residents traveled between Pingxi and Xizhi, transporting various goods on a carrying pole, thus creating a mountain path. During the Japanese colonial period, coal mining in the Pingxi area attracted a large population, making Pingxi a mining hub. Although the Pingxi Railway was built mainly for coal transportation, the Jing Tong Old Trail remained an important transportation route to Xizhi. Along the trail stands a massive rock with an ancient stone tablet that has a prominently raised inscription; the text, although worn, can still be identified as "Commemorative Monument for Trail Opening," which was established during the Japanese colonial period when the Jing Tong Old Trail was built—an important relic of the trail. After 1971, roads connecting Pingxi to Muzha, Ruifang, and Xizhi were opened in succession, leading to fewer visitors on the old trail, leaving only hikers to explore its depths. The Jing Tong Old Trail begins at the entrance of the Dongshan Creek Valley on Xiping Road, passing through the Shikengzi Mountain area, crossing the highest point at Panshi Ridge where it overlaps with Xiping Road, and then entering the Pingxi area via Roubanka, Bird's Nest Ridge, Yunwu Valley, and the Moshengzi Cave to reach Jing Tong. The trail is divided into two sections: the Xizhi section starts at the entrance on Dongshan Road after crossing the Ren'ai Bridge; the Pingxi section entrance is directly opposite the Land God Temple at Panshi Ridge, making it quite noticeable. The Xizhi section features rural paths and scattered cottages, while the Pingxi section through dense forests presents a more challenging adventure.
